Baxter County Lake Quality
Arkansas, 3 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Baxter County has 3 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Bull Shoals Lake (A); the most-stressed is Norfork Lake (C).
Quick Answers for Baxter County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Bull Shoals Lake — or check the official Arkansas fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Baxter County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bull Shoals Lake | A | 16.1 ft | 22 µg/L |
| 2 | Norfork Lake | B | 12.2 ft | 30 µg/L |
| 3 | Norfork Lake | C | 9.8 ft | 30 µg/L |
Other Counties in Arkansas
See how Baxter County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 34 states.
Where to stay near Baxter County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.